Posts Tagged ‘Origins Game Fair’

Origins Game Fair returns this Wednesday June 14th to Sunday June 18th at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Origins is the longest-running and largest convention for people who enjoy games. There is so much to do over the five days that I could go on for pages, but I am of course just going to focus on anime and Japanese related events and games.

The Anime Track is being ran by Wasabi Anime again this year. They will be running events from Thursday to Sunday. They will be showing Anime Music Videos ever day, a manga library, and a viewing room sponsored by Viz, Funimation, and AnimEigo. Though I will say last year the library was a big disappoint me quality and selection. Let’s hope for more this year. Panels for this year cover such topics as Voltron, Yu Yu Hakusho, Transformers, tea, a Cowboy Bebop listening party, Anime Name That Tune, and many more.

They will also be running sessions of various anime related games for free; Mangaka, Ryuutama, Golden Sky Stories, Maid RPG, and Tanto Coure. All the other games at the con will cost at least $2, most will cost even more.

For Collectable Games, both Konami and Pokémon running many sessions of their games. Demo games to learn Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokémon, tournaments of various styles and levels, and plenty of pick-up games. Also games and tournaments for Dice Masters, which had a Yu-Gi-Oh set.

For Role Playing Games there are a few that are of interest to this blog including some sessions of Kuro and sessions of Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555 (ADGNEPSEF555) where you play in an anime-themed cross-dimensional grade school. It is very weird.

There will be some Pokémon LARP sessions using DSes and a LARP for the ADGNEPSEF universe.

For Miniatures Games, you will have four chances to play a Starblazers game and learn Infinity a new manga inspired game. Heroclix will have some tournaments to play in, they also had a Yu-Gi-Oh expansion set.

If you are interested in board games, they have you covered there too. Cool Mini or Not will be running games and tournaments of Arcadia Quest and Masmorra Dungeons of Arcadia. Japanime Games will be doing learn to plays and tournaments of Tanto Cuore (various sets) and Heart of Crown. The games available to try are Pokemon Master Trainer, Resident Evil Deck Building Game, Hatsune Miku (a new co-op game), Cowboy Bebop: The Board Game, Era of the Ninja, Super Dungeon Explore, and more.

Plus do not forget all the dealers that will be there with many of the above games and others.

Origins is a great convention to go to, but it does take a bit of money to go and survive. But it is worth it.

This past weekend, Columbus, Ohio, was the epicenter of Dueling as the Yu-Gi-Oh! CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (YCS) Origins crowned two winners. Jake Phinney found that he had outpaced the competition in the Main Event to earn himself the coveted spot of YCS Origins Champion. Additionally, young Zach Taylor made a name for himself as he won the Dragon Duel Championship.

Held during the Origins Game Fair, this two-day premier level event, presented by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KONAMI), players of every age and ability showed off their impressive Dueling skills round after round. Phinney from Blanch, North Carolina played his Phantom Abyss Deck to propel him into Sunday’s Single Elimination. Then, after several rounds of Single Elimination, it came down to an exhilarating playoff with Aaron Furman from Linwood, New Jersey playing a Kozmo Deck.

In addition to the title of YCS Champion, Phinney returned home with a stellar set of prizes that included a YCS Championship Trophy, an Ultra Rare YCS Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn Prize Card, a PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and an invitation and paid travel to his 2016 World Championship Qualifier (WCQ) tournament!

The Dragon Duel Championship, an event for Duelists born in 2003 or later, was no less exciting as Aurora, Illinois’ Taylor used his Sealed Deck then switched to his own Kozmo Deck in the finals. He had all the right moves to beat Eli Buckwatter who played a Battle Pack Assorted Deck in their head-to-head playoff. Taylor picked up some great prizes too, including a Dragon Duel Championship Trophy, a 2016 Regional Game Mat, a Dragon Duel Medal, a Regional Deck Box, a Super Rare set of the YCS Darklord Prize Cards, and an invitation to the 2016 Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier tournament to be held during his WCQ.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) Duelists and Origins Game Fair attendees are in for a special treat when show sponsor Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KONAMI) brings the Yu-Gi-Oh! CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (YCS) to Columbus, Ohio. This premier-level event will be held on June 15-19, with the Main Event scheduled for June 18-19, during the five-day show at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

At YCS Origins, hundreds of Duelists from across the country will be eager to put their Deck choice and game strategy to the test, hopeful that they have what it takes to win every round, progressing to Sunday’s Final Round for the chance to hoist the YCS Champion trophy.

Pre-registration for YCS Origins will run from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17 and registration will continue promptly at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18. Upon registering, Duelists will receive five Shining Victories booster packs for participating in KONAMI’s YCS Origins and an exclusive YCS Origins Participation Game Mat. Round One will start at 10:00 a.m. and the top-ranked YCS finishers will earn invitations to participate in the 2016 World Championship Qualifier, scheduled to be held in Pittsburgh in July. Players will use their constructed Decks all the way to the Championship. Duelists can find the answers to many of their questions here: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/2016/YCS_Origins.html.

Both seasoned Duelists and those getting into the game have a chance to compete for a variety of exciting prizes at YCS Origins. Among the prizes, the first place winner will receive an Ultra Rare version of the latest, most sought-after prize card: Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn – one of the rarest Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards in existence!

Accompanying the Main Event, KONAMI will also be conducting Dragon Duels (for Duelists born in 2003 or later). The Dragon Duel tournaments on Thursday through Sunday morning will be sealed using Battle Pack: Epic Dawn, where each Duelist is given ten sealed Battle Packs to make a new Deck. The top four finishers in the Dragon Duel events will receive winners’ medals, a Regional Deck Box, and a 2016 Regional Game Mat. Top-ranked finishers will also win an invitation to their 2016 Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier. On Sunday afternoon, the 1st place winners of each of the Dragon Duels from Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will compete in a 4-Player Advanced Format- Single-Elimination Tournament, to determine the weekend’s overall winner and a chance at the ultimate prize: to hoist the Dragon Duel Champion’s trophy and the coveted title of YCS Dragon Duel Champion! The Dragon Duel Champion will also receive a previously issued Super Rare YCS prize card. Entry to the Dragon Duel tournaments is free to qualified players.

Another not-to-be-missed YCS Origins event is meeting two of the most popular actors from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series! Darren Dunstan, the voice actor for Maximillion Pegasus, and Wayne Grayson, the voice actor for Joey Wheeler, will be available at specific times during the weekend to sign autographs so fans should bring their favorite Pegasus & Joey cards and make sure to get their YCS Origins Participation Game Mat autographed! Additionally, the actors will be participating in the Q&A session in the anime track on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m.

During the five days of the Origins Game Fair, KONAMI will also be hosting a series of Public Events and is pleased to début a new Public Event at YCS Origins, the Generation Duel, in which players can play a Deck based off of one of the five Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series. Additionally, a full range of Public Events such as 2016 Regional Qualifiers, Ultimate Duelist Series Qualifiers, School Tournament Series, 3 vs. 3 Team Dueling, ATTACK OF THE GIANT CARD!!, Win-A-Mat, Sealed Starter Deck and Structure Deck, Duelist League, Yu-Gi-Oh! Day and Battle City Tournaments will be held throughout YCS Origins.
The Main Event winner, the two runners-up and winners of Sunday’s two Public Event playoffs will each be awarded a YCS prize card. The Main Event winner will take home an Ultra Rare version of the Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn prize card, with the other winners bringing home Super Rare versions. The top ranked Duelists will also win a Top Cut Game Mat for this event.

Orgins Game Fair is this June 15th through the 19th at Columbus Convention Center in Columbus. It is one the largest gathering of gamers and games in the country and they have some anime/Japanese themed games and events for all.

Last year they started Anime themed programming by partnering with Wasabi Anime, local anime conventions, and others. This year they have expanded that programming. There will be panels, screenings, workshops, a manga library, and more. They will have events Thursday through Saturday only though. They have the use of three rooms for events and the library. Special events include an Anime Name That Tune game show, Trulie Awesome Show (an anime inspired comedy duo), and playing anime games with the maids of Cafe Peitet Joy.

The Special Media Guests for this year’s con are two anime voice actors, Darren Dunstan and Wayne Grayson. Darren has voiced on Yu-Gi-Oh! (Pegasus), the 2003 TMNT (Splinter), Chaotic (Kaz), and several other 4Kids productions along with doing voice direction for a number of series. Wayne has done voice work for over 20 years, his best know work though is Yu-Gi-Oh! (Joey), Utena (Ruka), Samurai Deeper Kyo (Benitora), and the 2003 TMNT (Michelangelo). The two of them will only be there for Saturday and Sunday, helping to judge the costume contest, holding a Q&A, and a signing on Saturday. On Sunday they will be in the Konami area of Battelle Hall all day.

There are a few RPGs with anime themes. Kuro from Cubicle 7 has three different sessions to play, all starting at 8am though. Plus some Big Eye Small Mouth sessions, fantasy and post-apocalyptic ones. Windmill Game Co is running several sessions of their game Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555 (ADGNEPSEF555), which is designed as a free for all anime inspired game where anything should happen set in a school. They will also have game of it based around wuxia and henshin heroes too.

For those interested in LARPS there are some anime themed ones. The Pokémon company’s LARP is just having you challenge other players with your 3DS or 2DS and a copy of X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire to collect gym badges to then beat the Elite Four and the Champion to win a prize. It goes on all day on Thursday through Sunday. Not really a traditional LARP unless you put some character into, which I think would be a lot of fun. A more traditional LARP is ADGNEPSEF555: The Movie!! The LARPening!!! on Sunday starting at noon. Inspired from the above RPG.

On the miniature side of things we have some unique items. One man has modified rules from other games to make his own Starblazer’s space game (two sessions) and Area 88 fighter plane game (one session). Cool Mini or Not has some “miniature figure board games” to check out too. Arcade Quest about playing a guild of heroes fighting evil, Rivet Wars a sort of WWI battle with cute and wacky figures, and Kaosball a fantasy sport league. Plus Super Dungeon Explorer and Ninja All-Stars from Ninja Division.

Board throughout the long weekend include Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools (the only game actual using the Anime track listing), Lanterns: The Harvest Festival Tournament, King of Tokyo games, Hanabi, and Samurai Spirit.

There will also be videoing too. Pokémon handheld, Mario Kart, Pokken, Smash Bros, Street Fighter, and a retro game challenge tournaments are all planned.

Early Bird registration pricing ends tomorrow, so sorry this is so late. Ribbons, generics, and event registration will not be available online. Badge Registration will remain open through the show though.

This is a con for all fans of gaming to check out at least once. Though it can get a bit expensive of five days. I will actually be at this one. I have not been for a few years so I am excited for it.

Origins Game Fair is one of the largest gaming convention in North America. It takes places every year at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. It is run by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and covers all sides of gaming. It is this week Wednesday 12 through Sunday the 16.

WarGames, miniatures, board games, collectible card games, LARPs, RPGs, and more are going to be there and plenty of them. It is the site of the Origins Awards ceremony, an art expo, guests, film screenings, blood drive, auction, costume contest, big vendor room, electronic games, parties, panels, war college, and much more . It is a place where game companies come to show off their games and debut them. So of course there anime and manga related games at the show.

For the CCG crowd both Yu-Gi-Oh and Cardfight Vanguard both have sections of the CCG hall devoted to them. Several sanctioned tournaments will be played over the weekend with plenty of prizes to win and side events as well.

Japanime Games will be in attendance, selling in the dealers hall, running games of Tanto Cuore and Kanzume Goddess. Krosmaster, their miniatures board game, will be released at Origins, so check it out.

Cool Mini or Not will have miniatures and games you can buy. They crafted the video game inspired Super Dungeon Explorer and Anima Tactics miniatures. There are Super Dungeon Explorer sessions set up for you to learn to play the game.

Some other new games premiering at the con include: Dyad Games a new company with a feudal japanese card game Kamakura and Ziko Games is bringing Legends of The Three Kingdoms a card game about the three kingdoms period of Chinese history.

Another thing to check out is ADGNEPSEF555 a RPG about an anime cross-dimensional grade school, very crazy and active. Run by the Windmill Game Company using Golden Hour RPG. They are running it several times over the con and doing a LARP version on Sunday.

One of the big events of the con is the Origins Awards. The awards are voted on by the attendees of Origins in such categories as Best RPG, Best Board Game, Best Traditional Card Game, Best Gaming Accessory, Best Miniatures Rules, Best Historical Board Game, Best Historical Miniature Rules, and Best Game-Related Publication, Best CCG, and more. The only one with related products is of course the Best CCG. Nominees include Card Fight! Vanguard Breaker of Limits by Bushiroad, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters by Wizards of the Coast, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Battlepacks by Konami.

And some of the exhibitors at the con, which I have not already mention, to check out are Anigames, an anime store from Toldeo; Indie Press Revolution, who deal in small press RPGs like Maid, Bliss Stage, and several more anime inspired one ; Z-Man Games, a game company that sells several board and card games from Japan.

If you can Origins is one the top conventions to go to if you like gaming and the gaming crowd. I would like to get some more otaku gaming. Which is something I guess I will work on myself instead of relying on others.